Seventy-five years ago today, the war in the Far East against Japan and her allies came to an end.
Coming as it did four months after VE Day, it was not marked with quite the same level of rejoicing in many countries, although Americans did mark the event with large numbers of public celebrations. People in Europe were coming to terms with the aftermath of the war there, and the surrender of the Japanese seemed to be inevitable as the might of the British Empire, the United States, Soviet Russia turned against them.
On 6th and 9th August 1945, the United States Army Air Force had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively, and the Soviet Union has declared war on Japan on 9th August. On 10th August, realising that defeat was inevitable, the Japanese government communicated its intention to agree to an unconditional surrender.
Just after midday on 15th August 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender, and on 2nd September the formal surrender document was signed on the quarterdeck of the US battleship USS Missouri. Some fighting did continue in China after the surrender, and in the interim between the Emperor's declaration and the surrender, some Japanese soldiers killed Allied Prisoners of War before they could be liberated.
The UK celebrates the anniversary of the declaration of surrender – 15th August – as VJ Day (Victory against Japan Day) whereas the President Harry Truman chose the day after the surrender document was signed – 3rd September – to be that day on which the US would celebrate the end of the war.
Coming as it did four months after VE Day, it was not marked with quite the same level of rejoicing in many countries, although Americans did mark the event with large numbers of public celebrations. People in Europe were coming to terms with the aftermath of the war there, and the surrender of the Japanese seemed to be inevitable as the might of the British Empire, the United States, Soviet Russia turned against them.
On 6th and 9th August 1945, the United States Army Air Force had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively, and the Soviet Union has declared war on Japan on 9th August. On 10th August, realising that defeat was inevitable, the Japanese government communicated its intention to agree to an unconditional surrender.
Just after midday on 15th August 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender, and on 2nd September the formal surrender document was signed on the quarterdeck of the US battleship USS Missouri. Some fighting did continue in China after the surrender, and in the interim between the Emperor's declaration and the surrender, some Japanese soldiers killed Allied Prisoners of War before they could be liberated.
The UK celebrates the anniversary of the declaration of surrender – 15th August – as VJ Day (Victory against Japan Day) whereas the President Harry Truman chose the day after the surrender document was signed – 3rd September – to be that day on which the US would celebrate the end of the war.
Thanks for your post Bob. Interesting final coda - researching my village war memorial, the last man to die was in early September in an air transport crash working with SOE Force 136
ReplyDeletehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_136
Their post VJ Day role was partly with POWs - "The surrender of the Japanese after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, changed the role of undercover agents in the Asian countries. Their role shifted to one of accepting the surrender of Japanese units and keeping public order until civil government could be restored. Force 136 also played a key role in assisting prisoners of war in these countries.”
No longer the Forgotten Army ...
https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2020/08/15/15-august-1945-vj-day-75-2020/
Mark, Man of Tin,
DeleteIt is nice that at long last, the forces that fought in the Far East are beginning to get greater recognition in the UK, and I note that there will be several official ceremonies taking place today to mark VJ Day.
The role of SOE outside Europe is one aspect of the 'forgotten war' that is not at all well known, and yet so many of its personnel went on to do all sorts high profile things after the war.
All the best,
Bob
I watched the moving service from the National Memorial Arboretum today. It was very well done andmoving.
ReplyDeleteNundanket,
DeleteI also watched it and also found it very moving, especially the stories told by the veterans.
All the best,
Bob
My dad was 25 at the end of the war and about to start his second tour of ops on Moskitos as part of SEAAC (South East Asia Air Command). If the bomb had not been dropped I doubt if he would have survived the war and neither I, my children or grandchildren would be here today. It was a terrible thing but it saved the lives of many too.
ReplyDeleteStryker,
DeleteMy father served with 6th Airborne Division, and at the end of the war in Europe they were readied to go east to take part in operations against the Japanese. They were to form an airborne corps with the 44th Indian Airborne Division.
Had the conventional bombing campaign of the Japanese mainland by the Allies continued until the invasion fleet had been assembled, I suspect that the number of Japanese who would have been killed would have been far greater than the number killed by the two atom bombs.
With the Russians destroying the last concentration of Japanese military power in China and Korea, the only way the a Japanese could have resisted an invasion would have been mass suicide attacks. The human cost to the defenders and invaders would have been immense.
When looked at in this light, the decision to drop the atom bombs makes sense.
All the best,
Bob
My step grandfather was a RN regular, although most of his service was in the North Atlantic, Barents Sea and Mediterranean, he was transferred to the Pacific in 1945 preparing for the Invasion of Japan (he was on Landing Craft for the last two years of the war).
ReplyDeleteMy paternal grandfathers regiment was among the forces diverted from the Middle East to the Far East and he was taken prisoner in 1942. He died in 1944 and is commemorated on the war memorial in Singapore.
Martin Rapier,
DeleteGeneral Slim is reputed to have said ‘When you go home don't worry about what to tell your loved ones and friends about service in Asia. No one will know where you were, or where it is if you do. You are, and will remain "The Forgotten Army." ’.
At long last, that is no longer true.
All the best,
Bob